UF or FSU? International Business Major. Need to decide TODAY! HELP!!

<p>Ok, here is my situation...
I am interested in business, and though I am not completely set on it, if I do anything in business, I would like for it to be associated with Global Business specifically. Please give me advice specific to that. I need to decide TODAY, so quick responses would be appreciated. I got into FSU and UF, and I am having the worst time deciding between the schools. I love FSUs campus, and I am from Georgia, so it feels more like home. Almost all of my close friends are going to FSU, and I have a roomate set up there, he is a guy i really respect from my highschool, and i really enjoy being around, but he is not one of my best friends (even though these people are also going to FSU). Just from personal experience, the people I know who go to UF, and who are going, are not like me at all, and the people from FSU that I know, are the more down to earth people who I could see being my friends. I do not want this to affect my decison too much though, because I know I can find good friends wherever I go. Also, FSU is giving me $10,000, which really is a factor since my family doesnt have loads of extra money laying around.
I am smart, I got a 1510 on the SAT, have a 4.0 GPA, and im going to be valedictorian, so in some way, I feel like I owe it to myself to go to UF, which is considered the better school generally. I found out recently that FSU has a specific International Business major, which is perfect for what I want to do. UF doesnt have an international business major. I am curious how much this will affect my actual education in terms of international business, along with my preparedness for life after collge. Would FSU actually provide a better education for me? UF does have a masters in International business available, but that isnt very appealing since you have to work for two years before you can get your masters. PLEASE GIVE ME ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO, I NEED TO DECIDE TONIGHT!!!</p>

<p>orlanta3</p>

<p>First of all, congratulations on your tremendous academic accomplishments. You should be very proud of what you have done. Our s is set to start at fsu this summer and I mention this only because my views are a bit biased toward fsu.</p>

<p>Anyway, while UF has a better academic reputation, I think the fact that FSU offers this (FSU</a> Undergraduate Academic Program Guide) program combined with the fact that you felt more comfortable at FSU should give you reason enough to select FSU. On top of that you have worked hard to be awarded an academic scholarship which is significant and should not be played down.</p>

<p>The reality is that outside of the realm of Florida, FSU and UF do not have a great academic distinction between them. we live in the NY metro area and most folks we have talked with think both schools are very good.</p>

<p>In all likelihood, you will pursue a master’s degree and in that respect it may make a difference which school you attend. Some masters programs are well renowned for International business and this could help with employment and other opportunities. Undergraduate degree's are also very important, but I do not believe you can go wrong with FSU. No matter which school you choose, you will have a good experience. I have always encouraged my son during this college application process to select a school where he felt comfortable and could see himself spending the next four years of his life.</p>

<p>For him, that school is FSU. I wish you well no matter where you go. Good luck.</p>

<p>If you are planning to do anything business related, I highly recommend FSU. UF does have the better overall academic reputation, but under certain major-specific circumstances (primarily English, Social Studies, and Business), FSU is the better choice.</p>

<p>Best of luck with wherever you choose to go!</p>

<p>Since you will require an MBA do do anything above entry level, I would go with the school that seems the best value and fit for you. I think prestige is relatively unimportant in an undergrad environment (unless you are going to a top 20 school). Judging by your attitude in the post, it sounds like you would be happier at FSU than UF. The extra scholarship also comes in handy, and you'll be able to finance your MBA without coming out of school up to your neck in debt. </p>

<p>Just my opinion though. I would post this is a non-biased forum as well (like College Selection?) to get more well rounded opinions. Good luck wherever you decide to go!</p>

<p>First of all, FSU isn't close to UF in business, not sure where Write On gets his information.</p>

<p>Now, normally this would be a slam dunk for UF, but this is very nuanced. You have to ask yourself: how important is it for you to be with your high school friends? Will you feel left out if you go to UF without them?</p>

<p>even that is difficult, since it's not hard to make new friends in college. I did it, and so do most people.</p>

<p>I wouldn't worry so much about which one "feels more like home." Wherever you go will end up being home, and you'll have a blast at either school.</p>

<p>It all comes down to how important UF's better business school is to you, and how important it is for you to stay with your old friends and to help out your family with that extra $10000. We can't tell you what to do, no matter what the others here may think.</p>

<p>(p.s. If you want to work in the south, don't fall for the old trick here that people don't know the difference between the two schools. That's true in the north, where you won't get any job offers anyway, but not so in the south. recruiters are very mindful of the strengths of each school here. Honestly, who cares what a Chicago layman thinks about UF and FSU?)</p>

<p>Good luck at FSU or UF. Don't feel bad about choosing FSU if you go that route. Do what makes sense for you. You can always come back to UF for graduate school.</p>

<p>I know making new friends will not be a problem for me, I really enjoy going new places, and doing new thing. I also have some good friends going to UF,but i know i would not stay good friends with them, and that is honestly a pro for UF, i just dont know if FSUs specificity in terms of the major I want causes their business program to be better, not overall, or generally, but in terms of me.</p>

<p>Take the $$, go to FSU. The business schools aren't that different. See: FSU</a> Highlights and: College</a> of Business | Marketing | Multinational Business Operations Major</p>

<p>Congratulations!</p>

<p>Orlanta3,</p>

<p>It sounds as if you are trying to weigh out your options carefully concerning the two schools in question. Both are fine universities with outstanding reputations. Congratulations for your acceptance to two great schools in a very tough year for applicants!</p>

<p>When visiting colleges, one usually gets a feeling in their "gut" about where their own personal best "fit" is. If your high school buddies were not in the picture at all, where would you feel you had that best fit? That is the real question because you are going to be meeting knew people, exploring new interests and you may stay close with your high school friends or you may not. Oh and by the way, it's best to not room with one of your "best buddies" - because it really can tarnish your friendship.</p>

<p>In business, it seems most people in today's competitive environment do go to grad school. Once you have your master's degree, that institution will be the one that is attached to you, (your undergrad degree is not the major emphasis). Acceptance into grad school is determined by your exam score (GRE, MCAT, LCAT, etc), your GPA, and how you fit with their grad program. It isn't that big of a deal where you got your undergrad degree to those schools, just as long as you have the right stuff.</p>

<p>Judging from your academic info and the fact that FSU is willing to put their money where their mouth is, I would say that you have the capability to do outstanding work wherever you decide to go. FSU recognizes potential (scholarships) and has produced the only Rhodes Scholars to come out of Florida in the last couple of years. They have a department that specifically gives guidance to academically talented students in their quest for outstanding accomplishments such as Rhodes, Goldwater, etc. scholarships. As a result of this many students who are high achievers don't necessarily go to UF especially when FSU is willing to sweeten the pot with the scholarship $$. </p>

<p>Every year there are so many students accepted to both schools who choose FSU over UF or UF over FSU. Their #1 choice boils down to their own personal perspective.</p>

<p>You are the only one who can answer this question...what does your gut tell you?</p>

<p>If you still aren't sure, write down the pros and cons of both schools and see if that helps you to analyze what you think and/or feel.</p>

<p>Good luck, please let us know what you decide.</p>

<p>ABC - By the way, Write On is a female!</p>

<p>My apologies. ;)</p>

<p>Oh, ABCB7099...you silly boy.</p>

<p>FSU</a> College of Business programs rise in national rankings</p>

<p>The fact that it has an International Business major just adds to the incentive, doesn't it?</p>

<p>The FSU CoB dean is wonderful. She's done some great stuff for the CoB.</p>

<p>btw, Write On I've had a number of folks think me female. I view it as amusing and intentionally obfuscate my references just to keep it interesting.</p>

<p>Silly? I'm sorry, Write On, but how exactly does that show in any way that FSU is the "better choice" (your words) for business? What are you trying to prove?</p>

<p>I really didn't want to turn this into another one of these things, but I won't allow you to spread lies.</p>

<p>ABCB7099,</p>

<p>Well, considering that FSU has a 100% job placement rate for its graduates and has the specific major that orlanta3 is looking for, I believe that it is the better choice for him/her specifically.</p>

<p>The only lie that I have said involved me calling you "silly"...that is far too glorified an adjective for you. My most sincere apologies.</p>

<p>As I stated many times on these types of threads, graduating from either FSU's or UF's COB will give you similar opportunities on the job market. Regardless of what the UFers on this board tell you, both schools hold similar weight in the real world, as opposed to USnews rankings fantasy land. </p>

<p>IMO, you should take the money and go with FSU. That money will come in handy when attending graduate school down the road.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
First of all, FSU isn't close to UF in business, not sure where Write On gets his information.</p>

<p>Now, normally this would be a slam dunk for UF, but this is very nuanced. You have to ask yourself: how important is it for you to be with your high school friends? Will you feel left out if you go to UF without them?</p>

<p>I wouldn't worry so much about which one "feels more like home." Wherever you go will end up being home, and you'll have a blast at either school.</p>

<p>It all comes down to how important UF's better business school is to you, and how important it is for you to stay with your old friends and to help out your family with that extra $10000. We can't tell you what to do, no matter what the others here may think.</p>

<p>(p.s. If you want to work in the south, don't fall for the old trick here that people don't know the difference between the two schools. That's true in the north, where you won't get any job offers anyway, but not so in the south. recruiters are very mindful of the strengths of each school here. Honestly, who cares what a Chicago layman thinks about UF and FSU?)</p>

<p>Good luck at FSU or UF. Don't feel bad about choosing FSU if you go that route. Do what makes sense for you. You can always come back to UF for graduate school.

[/QUOTE]
There is some bad advice in the post above - particularly the bit that says (in effect) "the 'better' program is all that matters and damn the rest." Easy enough to say for somebody who likes the school they chose (whether they realize it or not) - try asking somebody who did not like the bulk of their undergraduate experience (like me), and you will get a completely different answer. Moreover, the actual "value" of an undergraduate education is debatable, particularly when you start talking about massive schools and lecture hall courses - remember that the schools themselves are businesses of a sort, and they all promote a variety of specious factors to attract paying students. Pay heed to who says what. School X will have this and School Y will have that, but think about what that actually means to you as a number in the system - because that's what undergraduates are to most of these schools.</p>

<p>Now, allow me to weigh in as a professional who has actually spent a number of years in industry now (I'm working my way into the energy sector now, which is heavily science/engineering biased, so note that I am referring to my time spent in business consulting): to begin with, I don't even have a degree in business. I acquired most of my "business specific" knowledge on the job - and initially attracted interest from employers through my skill set and personality. I dual-majored in Creative Writing and Classics - I can think critically and creatively, and communicate effectively (in three languages). Problem solving and communication are the cornerstones of business, after all.</p>

<p>So, it's quite clear that my undergraduate education (from a knowledge standpoint) has no direct relevance to my career. The skills that I learned do. You should examine the differences in curriculum closely - I can absolutely guarantee you that there is little difference between FSU and UF in this regard, right down to course numbering. You will take a very similar sequence of courses in very similar environments. Consequently, do not concern yourself with which school has a "better" program - particularly when they're closely matched in a relative sense. As I said, you will ultimately do most of your learning on the job. Good companies tend to prefer candidates who can be adapted to fill a specific role within their corporate culture - and your resume is just a way to crack doors open (let alone open them entirely). I've lost out on jobs to candidates with (as I found out later) inferior credentials simply because I didn't prepare or take an interview seriously enough. You seem intelligent and motivated, and so I suspect that you will be able to make something of yourself regardless.</p>

<p>The one area where UF does have a significant advantage over FSU is in alumni connections. UF is the more established school, and operates the local good ol' boy network. It does exist and it is important - in business, most jobs are earned through connections and referrals. However, this won't matter much outside of the deep south, as UF doesn't have a truly national presence despite what they may think or claim (UM is probably the only FL school that does). With your "international" aspirations, I suspect you'll be looking to end up in a place like California or New York anyhow.</p>

<p>Which school should you choose, then? It's simple. I hate to break out the old clich</p>

<p>I don't think I said that all that matters is the better program, and if that's how it came out it was not intended that way. The thing I was trying to get across is that this choice hinges on how important it is to him that he goes to the more established program, and how important the extra cash and presence of high school friends is to him. Hence, my last sentence.</p>

<p>I'm jumped on for something I didn't actually say (but was presumed to have said), while nobody says anything about this gem? </p>

<p>"but under certain major-specific circumstances (primarily English, Social Studies, and Business), FSU is the better choice"</p>

<p>Write On, thanks for outing yourself as someone not worth responding to in the future. It'll save some headache.</p>

<p>P.S. Good advice regarding accounting. That's the path I'm currently on.</p>

<p>OP - What was your final decision?
@ABCB7099- Why do you keep trolling this board? There is no reason for posting your rude comments.</p>

<p>ABC,</p>

<p>You are absolutely welcome. In fact, your sarcasm has helped me see the error of my ways.</p>

<p>(Note to self: Don't even bother responding to self-righteous, trollish, ignoramuses who will never gain success in any profession that involves human contact - such as accounting.)</p>

<p>Hey ABC,</p>

<p>how long have you been this cool and how can I be like you?</p>